What to say (and not say)
Conversation scripts for school meetings
This section will provide example phrases and conversation scripts for common school meeting scenarios. Each script will cover what to say, what to avoid saying, and why the suggested phrasing is more likely to lead to a productive outcome. The scripts will be grounded in collaborative problem-solving principles.
This section will cover scripts for specific situations, including raising a concern for the first time, responding when school minimises your child's difficulties, discussing masking and the difference between home and school presentation, and requesting a referral or assessment.
This section will address how to phrase requests for reasonable adjustments in a way that references the legal framework without creating an adversarial dynamic. It will include scripts for escalation conversations when initial requests have not been acted on.
This section will also cover scripts for positive conversations, including how to acknowledge when school is doing something well, how to share strategies that work at home, and how to build the kind of relationship with school staff that benefits your child over the long term.
Key points
- Lead with observation rather than accusation: "I have noticed that..." is more productive than "You are not..."
- Frame requests in terms of your child's needs rather than the school's failures: "My child needs..." rather than "You should..."
- When school says your child is "fine here", explain the concept of masking and the cost it carries at home
- Use the phrase "What does that look like in practice?" to move conversations from vague promises to concrete actions
- Acknowledging what school is doing well before raising concerns builds a collaborative relationship and makes staff more receptive